sat in his penthouse office, the city spread out below him like a b

to his assistant, Ma

Find

last night. The

. "Why? I gave her s

came from. There was something... familiar about he

dn't question it further

e, facial recognition software, and a network of contacts that money

Mark handled it, explaining that Mr. Conway was a philanthropist

idn't stir when they approached. Looking at her up close, without the shadows of the alley, Ma

discreet professional who worked for the family

ity," Dr. Alan said quietly, his face g

place that valued discretion above all else. In a clean, white room, the doctor began his examination. El

he full extent of the scar was horrifying. It wasn't just a cut; the

hings working for Brigham Conway, but

they're not just broken, they've been methodically crushed. One by one. This was done

ing the examination of someone else's body. She felt a stran

growing more disturbed with each discovery.

cal cords... they've been severed. Surgically, almost. It'

th shock. "Who would do this to ano

could only stare at the b

way's exile. He had been a junior assistant then, but he reme

vered long-lost daughter, wa

ake, a usurper. She tried to open the main safe. Whe

Alicia Martinez, Brigham's mother, had rushe

She's lying. All of it. The safe was already

oise, but Eve was now the biological heir, con

wo million dollars in bearer bonds, go

ow! I didn'

innocent girl, had been attacked. Eloise, the proud, sometimes diffic

to Europe to cool off, a story that covered their shame. The

add up. The Eloise he remembered would have fought. She would have screamed her i

. "We'll run a full panel. Check for

?" Mark ask

s eyes suggested another reason. He had seen the tattoo on her wrist. He had heard the rumors abou

ve, and her eyes fin

of the room and

e described the doctor's findings in a low, shaking voi

ilence on the othe

gham's voice was

nizable. But the doctor is running a D

re. Don't let anyone in or out. And

s,

f pity, so strong it almost buckled his knees, washed over him. He thought of the

on't want to see this fi

s, they had done more than just cast he